Systems and methods for providing progressive images based on data range requests

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can request a lower quality version of an image. The image can correspond to a progressive image. A first quantity of progressive image scans included in the progressive image can be acquired. The first quantity of progressive image scans can represent the lower quality version of the image. A command to access a higher quality version of the image can be acquired. A data range associated with a second quantity of progressive image scans included in the progressive image can be identified. The second quantity of progressive image scans can be combinable with the first quantity of progressive image scans to represent the higher quality version of the image. The second quantity of progressive image scans can be acquired based on the data range. The higher quality version of the image can be generated based on combining the first quantity and the second quantity.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present technology relates to the field of multimedia or mediacontent processing. More particularly, the present technology relates totechniques for providing progressive images based on data rangerequests.

BACKGROUND

Today, people often utilize computing devices (or systems) for a widevariety of purposes. Users can use their computing devices to, forexample, interact with one another, access content, share content, andcreate content. In some cases, users can utilize their computing devicesto download, view, or otherwise access media content. For instance,users of a social networking system (or service) can, via theircomputing devices, access their feeds or other users' profiles to viewvarious posts that include media content items, such as images. Inanother instance, users can utilize their computing devices to view oraccess images via web resources, such as webpages, websites, or onlineapplications.

Under conventional approaches rooted in computer technology,transmitting an entire image at its full resolution can, in some cases,require a significant amount of data. In many instances, users'computing devices (or systems) may have limited data access, such as dueto restricted cellular data plans or poor network conditions. Moreover,in some instances, users' computing devices may not necessarily have thecapabilities (e.g., due to limited display screen sizes or resolutions)to efficiently utilize entire images at full resolutions. Furthermore,conventional approaches to providing images can store multiple versionsof an image to serve in various scenarios, which can cause data storageinefficiency. As such, conventional approaches can create challenges foror reduce the overall experience associated with utilizing media contentsuch as images.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments of the present disclosure can include systems,methods, and non-transitory computer readable media configured torequest a lower quality version of an image. The image can correspond toa progressive image. A first quantity of progressive image scansincluded in the progressive image can be acquired. The first quantity ofprogressive image scans can represent the lower quality version of theimage. A command to access a higher quality version of the image can beacquired. A data range associated with a second quantity of progressiveimage scans included in the progressive image can be identified. Thesecond quantity of progressive image scans can be combinable with thefirst quantity of progressive image scans to represent the higherquality version of the image. The second quantity of progressive imagescans can be acquired based on the data range. The higher qualityversion of the image can be generated based on combining the firstquantity and the second quantity.

In an embodiment, identifying the data range associated with the secondquantity of progressive image scans included in the progressive imagecan further comprise acquiring information included in an image headerfor the image. A last scan in the first quantity of progressive imagescans can be identified based on the information included in the imageheader. A starting scan in the second quantity of progressive imagescans can be identified. The starting scan in the second quantity can besubsequent to the last scan in the first quantity. An ending scan in thesecond quantity of progressive image scans can be identified based on atleast one of the information included in the image header, a systemconfiguration, a device property, a network condition, a definedsetting, or a user preference. The starting scan and the ending scan canbe respectively associated with a start and an end for the data range.

In an embodiment, the image header can include a proprietary header. Atleast some of the information included in the image header can beincorporated in the proprietary header.

In an embodiment, acquiring the second quantity of progressive imagescans based on the data range can further comprise generating a uniformresource locator (URL) that indicates the data range. A request for thesecond quantity of progressive image scans can be transmitted to acontent providing system. The request can be associated with the URL.The second quantity of progressive image scans can be received from thecontent providing system.

In an embodiment, acquiring the second quantity of progressive imagescans based on the data range can further comprise generating aHypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) range request that includes a byterange corresponding to the data range. The byte range can beincorporated into a HTTP header associated with the HTTP range request.The HTTP range request can be transmitted to a content providing system.Data corresponding to the byte range can be received from the contentproviding system. The data can represent the second quantity ofprogressive image scans.

In an embodiment, generating the higher quality version of the imagebased on combining the first quantity and the second quantity canfurther comprise removing a first terminator element subsequent to thefirst quantity of progressive image scans. The second quantity ofprogressive image scans can be appended to the first quantity ofprogressive image scans. A second terminator element can be addedsubsequent to the second quantity that has been appended to the firstquantity.

In an embodiment, the command to access the higher quality version ofthe image can be associated with at least one of a user interaction, achange in network connectivity, a social engagement trigger, or a timetrigger.

In an embodiment, the lower quality version of the image can be lower inresolution than the higher quality version of the image.

In an embodiment, the lower quality version of the image can beassociated with at least one of a preview version of the image or athumbnail version of the image. The higher quality version of the imagecan be associated with at least one of a full-screen displayable versionof the image or an original resolution version of the image.

In an embodiment, the progressive image can correspond to a progressiveJoint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) image. Each progressive imagescan in the first quantity and in the second quantity can correspond toa respective progressive JPEG scan included in the progressive JPEGimage.

It should be appreciated that many other features, applications,embodiments, and/or variations of the disclosed technology will beapparent from the accompanying drawings and from the following detaileddescription. Additional and/or alternative implementations of thestructures, systems, non-transitory computer readable media, and methodsdescribed herein can be employed without departing from the principlesof the disclosed technology.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system including an example progressiveimage range request module configured to facilitate providingprogressive images based on data range requests, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A illustrates an example data range module configured tofacilitate providing progressive images based on data range requests,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B illustrates an example image generation module configured tofacilitate providing progressive images based on data range requests,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example scenario associated with providingprogressive images based on data range requests, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example method associated with providingprogressive images based on data range requests, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example method associated with providingprogressive images based on data range requests, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates a network diagram of an example system including anexample social networking system that can be utilized in variousscenarios, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a computer system or computing devicethat can be utilized in various scenarios, according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

The figures depict various embodiments of the disclosed technology forpurposes of illustration only, wherein the figures use like referencenumerals to identify like elements. One skilled in the art will readilyrecognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments ofthe structures and methods illustrated in the figures can be employedwithout departing from the principles of the disclosed technologydescribed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Providing Progressive Images Based on Data RangeRequests

People use computing systems (or devices) for various purposes. Userscan utilize their computing systems to establish connections, engage incommunications, interact with one another, and/or interact with varioustypes of content. In some cases, a user of a computing device can accessmedia content. For example, the user can utilize his or her computingdevice to access a social networking system (or service). In thisexample, the user can download, view, or otherwise interact with a mediacontent item, such as an image, via the user's newsfeed, via pagesassociated with other entities, and/or via profiles associated withother users of the social networking system. In another example, theuser can view or access images (including videos or sets of video imageframes) via various resources, such as webpages, websites, applications,and/or local albums, etc.

Under conventional approaches rooted in computer technology for mediaprocessing, often times media content items such as images are providedor transmitted at their full, original image sizes (e.g., full, originalresolutions). Transmission of an entire image at its full resolutionunder conventional approaches can require a significant or non-trivialamount of data, which may be limited based on the user's data plan(e.g., cellular data plan). Moreover, in accordance with conventionalapproaches, network conditions may sometimes not be suitable to allowfor efficient transmission of the entire image at its full resolution.Additionally, such conventional approaches to providing images can beinefficient or wasteful when the user's computing device does notrequire the entire image at its full resolution or when the user'scomputing device lacks the capability to efficiently utilize the entireimage at its full resolution.

Furthermore, in some cases, users who indeed have access to computingdevices with adequate image processing capabilities and/or who indeedhave access to reliable networks may desire to receive entire images atfull resolutions. As such, this can result in conventional approacheshaving to store multiple versions of each image in a cache. For example,under conventional approaches, it can be necessary for a cache of acontent delivery network to store at least a low quality (e.g., lowresolution) version of an image and a high resolution (e.g., highresolution) version of the image, such that the cache can provide,deliver, transmit, or make available whichever version of the image issuitable based on a request for the image. However, such conventionalapproaches can cause inefficiencies for data storage, since each imagecan require multiple versions to be stored or cached.

Due to these or other concerns, conventional approaches can bedisadvantageous or problematic. Therefore, an improved approach can bebeneficial for addressing or alleviating various drawbacks associatedwith conventional approaches. Based on computer technology, thedisclosed technology can provide progressive images based on data rangerequests. Various embodiments of the present disclosure can includesystems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media configuredto request a lower quality version of an image. The image can correspondto a progressive image. A first quantity of progressive image scansincluded in the progressive image can be acquired. The first quantity ofprogressive image scans can represent the lower quality version of theimage. A command to access a higher quality version of the image can beacquired. A data range associated with a second quantity of progressiveimage scans included in the progressive image can be identified. Thesecond quantity of progressive image scans can be combinable with thefirst quantity of progressive image scans to represent the higherquality version of the image. The second quantity of progressive imagescans can be acquired based on the data range. The higher qualityversion of the image can be generated based on combining the firstquantity and the second quantity. It is contemplated that there can bemany variations and/or other possibilities associated with the disclosedtechnology.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system 100 including an exampleprogressive image range request module 102 configured to facilitateproviding progressive images based on data range requests, according toan embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in the example of FIG.1, the progressive image range request module 102 can include an imagerequest module 104, an image acquisition module 106, a command module108, a data range module 110, and an image generation module 112. Insome instances, the example system 100 can include at least one datastore 120. The components (e.g., modules, elements, etc.) shown in thisfigure and all figures herein are exemplary only, and otherimplementations may include additional, fewer, integrated, or differentcomponents. Some components may not be shown so as not to obscurerelevant details.

In some embodiments, the progressive image range request module 102 canbe implemented, in part or in whole, as software, hardware, or anycombination thereof. In general, a module as discussed herein can beassociated with software, hardware, or any combination thereof. In someimplementations, one or more functions, tasks, and/or operations ofmodules can be carried out or performed by software routines, softwareprocesses, hardware, and/or any combination thereof. In some cases, theprogressive image range request module 102 can be implemented, in partor in whole, as software running on one or more computing devices orsystems, such as on a user or client computing device. For example, theprogressive image range request module 102 or at least a portion thereofcan be implemented as or within an application (e.g., app), a program,an applet, or an operating system, etc., running on a user computingdevice or a client computing system, such as the user device 610 of FIG.6. In another example, the progressive image range request module 102 orat least a portion thereof can be implemented using one or morecomputing devices or systems that include one or more servers, such asnetwork servers or cloud servers. In some instances, the progressiveimage range request module 102 can, in part or in whole, be implementedwithin or configured to operate in conjunction with a social networkingsystem (or service), such as the social networking system 630 of FIG. 6.It should be appreciated that there can be many variations or otherpossibilities.

The image request module 104 can be configured to facilitate requestinga lower quality version of an image. The image can correspond to aprogressive image, such as a progressive Joint Photographic ExpertsGroup (JPEG) image. In some cases, the image request module 104 canrequest the lower quality version of the image when a preview or athumbnail of the image is to be provided. In one example, when a socialnetworking system feed is provided for a viewing user, one or more lowerquality versions of images can be provided in the feed based on requestsby the image request module 104. In this example, when the viewing userclicks on or interacts with the one or more lower quality versions, oneor more higher quality versions of the respective images can then beprovided based on subsequent requests made by the image request module104. In another example, when a computing device is experiencing poor orcostly network conditions, the image request module 104 running on thecomputing device can request a lower quality version of the image. Inthis example, when network conditions change, the image request module104 can then request a higher quality version of the image. It should beappreciated that all examples herein provided for illustrative purposesand that many variations associated with the disclosed technology arepossible.

The image acquisition module 106 can be configured to facilitateacquiring a first quantity of progressive image scans included in theprogressive image (e.g., a first set of scans in a progressive JPEGimage). The first quantity of progressive image scans can represent thelower quality version of the image. In one instance, the progressiveJPEG image can include eight scans, which can be utilized to display theimage in its full resolution. In this instance, a lower resolutionversion of the image can be displayed using only the first three scans.As such, the image acquisition module 106 can, in this instance, acquirethe first three scans. In some implementation, the disclosed technologycan utilize predefined logic or a specified setting(s) to determine oridentify the first quantity of progressive image scans. The imageacquisition module 106 can then receive, retrieve, or otherwise acquirethe determined or identified first quantity of progressive image scans.

The command module 108 can be configured to facilitate acquiring acommand to access a higher quality version of the image. In some cases,the command to access the higher quality version of the image can beassociated with at least one of a user interaction, a change in networkconnectivity, a social engagement trigger, or a time trigger. In oneexample, the command module 108 can detect, receive, recognize, orotherwise acquire the command when a viewing user clicks on, taps on, orinteracts with the lower quality version (e.g., preview, thumbnail,etc.) of the image to cause the higher quality version (e.g., higherresolution, full/original resolution, etc.) of the image to becomeaccessible. In another example, the command module 108 can acquire(i.e., detect, receive, recognize, etc.) the command when networkconditions improve, such as when transitioning from a cellular datanetwork to a Wi-Fi network. In a further example, the command module 108can acquire the command when the viewing user engages with the lowerquality version of the image in a social networking system, such as byliking, sharing, or commenting on, etc., the lower quality version ofthe image. In another example, the command module 108 can acquire thecommand when the viewing user has been viewing the lower quality versionof the image for a specified minimum threshold duration of time. Again,it should be understood that all examples herein are provided forillustrative purposes and that there can be many variations or otherpossibilities associated with the disclosed technology.

The data range module 110 can be configured to facilitate identifying adata range associated with a second quantity of progressive image scansincluded in the progressive image. The second quantity of progressiveimage scans can be combinable with the first quantity of progressiveimage scans to represent the higher quality version of the image. Thedata range module 110 can also be configured to facilitate acquiring thesecond quantity of progressive image scans based on the data range. Insome implementations, the data range module 110 can communicate and/oroperate in conjunction with the image acquisition module 106 to acquirethe second quantity of progressive image scans based on the data range.More details regarding the data range module 110 will be provided belowwith reference to FIG. 2A.

The image generation module 112 can be configured to facilitategenerating the higher quality version of the image based on combiningthe first quantity and the second quantity. The image generation module112 will be discussed in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2B.

In some embodiments, the lower quality version of the image can be lowerin resolution than the higher quality version of the image. In somecases, the lower quality version of the image can be associated with atleast one of a preview version of the image or a thumbnail version ofthe image, etc., and the higher quality version of the image can beassociated with at least one of a full-screen displayable version of theimage or an original resolution version of the image, etc. Moreover, insome instances, the progressive image can correspond to a progressiveJoint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) image, and each progressiveimage scan in the first quantity and in the second quantity cancorrespond to a respective progressive JPEG scan included in theprogressive JPEG image.

Additionally, in some embodiments, the progressive image range requestmodule 102 can be configured to communicate and/or operate with the atleast one data store 120, as shown in the example system 100. The atleast one data store 120 can be configured to store and maintain varioustypes of data. In some implementations, the at least one data store 120can store information associated with the social networking system(e.g., the social networking system 630 of FIG. 6). The informationassociated with the social networking system can include data aboutusers, social connections, social interactions, locations, geo-fencedareas, maps, places, events, pages, groups, posts, communications,content, feeds, account settings, privacy settings, a social graph, andvarious other types of data. In some implementations, the at least onedata store 120 can store information associated with users, such as useridentifiers, user information, profile information, user locations, userspecified settings, content produced or posted by users, and variousother types of user data. In some embodiments, the at least one datastore 120 can store information that is utilized by the progressiveimage range request module 102. Again, it is contemplated that there canbe many variations or other possibilities associated with the disclosedtechnology.

FIG. 2A illustrates an example data range module 202 configured tofacilitate providing progressive images based on data range requests,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In someembodiments, the data range module 108 of FIG. 1 can be implemented asthe data range module 202. As shown in the example of FIG. 2A, the datarange module 202 can include a uniform resource locator (URL) module 204and a byte range module 206.

As discussed previously, the data range module 202 can be configured tofacilitate identifying a data range associated with a second quantity ofprogressive image scans included in a progressive image. The secondquantity of progressive image scans can be combinable with a firstquantity of progressive image scans to represent a higher qualityversion of an image. In some embodiments, the data range module 202 canacquire information included in an image header for the image (e.g.,metadata in a JPEG header for a progressive JPEG image). The data rangemodule 202 can identify, based on the information included in the imageheader, a last scan in the first quantity of progressive image scans.The data range module 202 can also identify a starting scan in thesecond quantity of progressive image scans. In some cases, the startingscan in the second quantity can be identified as being subsequent to thelast scan in the first quantity. For example, the information in theimage header can indicate that the first quantity includes Scan #1, Scan#2, and Scan #3, such that Scan #3 is the last scan in the firstquantity. In this example, the data range module 202 can identify thestarting scan in the second quantity as being Scan #4.

Moreover, the data range module 202 can identify an ending scan in thesecond quantity of progressive image scans based on at least one of theinformation included in the image header (e.g., image metadata), asystem configuration (e.g., system logic), a device property (e.g.,device display dimensions), a network condition (e.g., network typeand/or quality), a defined setting (e.g., via a look-up table), or auser preference (e.g., manual selection). For example, the data rangemodule 202 can be implemented on a particular computing device (orsystem) and can identify the ending scan in the second quantity to beScan #7 for the particular computing device. In some cases, the datarange module 202 can identify the ending scan by selecting, or receivinga selection of, a number of scans for the second quantity. In thisexample, the data range module 202 can select four scans, such that theending scan is Scan #7, or four scans from the starting scan (Scan #4).In some instances, the starting scan and the ending scan can berespectively associated with a start and an end for the data range.Continuing with the previous example, the data range can start with Scan#4 and can end with Scan #7. Additionally, in some cases, the imageheader can include a proprietary header, and at least some of theinformation included in the image header can be incorporated in theproprietary header. Many variations are possible.

Furthermore, the data range module 202 can also be configured tofacilitate acquiring the second quantity of progressive image scansbased on the data range. In some implementations, the data range module202 can utilize the uniform resource locator (URL) module 204 tofacilitate acquiring the second quantity of progressive image scansbased on the data range. The URL module 204 can generate a URL thatindicates the data range. The URL module 204 can transmit, to a contentproviding system (e.g., a content delivery network), a request for thesecond quantity of progressive image scans. The request can beassociated with the URL. For example, the URL can indicate that Scan #4through Scan #7 are requested. The second quantity of progressive imagescans can then be received from the content providing system.

In some embodiments, the data range module 202 can utilize the byterange module 206 to facilitate acquiring the second quantity ofprogressive image scans based on the data range. The byte range module206 can generate a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) range request thatincludes a byte range corresponding to the data range. In one example,when the second quantity includes Scan #4 through Scan #7, the byterange can specify the first byte corresponding to the beginning of Scan#4 and the last byte corresponding to the end of Scan #7. The byte rangecan be incorporated into a HTTP header associated with the HTTP rangerequest. The byte range module 206 can transmit, to a content providingsystem, the HTTP range request. Data corresponding to the byte range canthen be received from the content providing system. The data canrepresent the second quantity of progressive image scans. As discussed,it is contemplated that many variations associated with the disclosedtechnology are possible.

FIG. 2B illustrates an example image generation module 222 configured tofacilitate providing progressive images based on data range requests,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In someembodiments, the image generation module 112 of FIG. 1 can beimplemented as the example image generation module 222. As shown in FIG.2B, the image generation module 222 can include a progressive image scancombination module 224 and a terminator module 226.

In some embodiments, the image generation module 222 can utilize theprogressive image scan combination module 224 to facilitate generating ahigher quality version of an image based on combining a first quantityof progressive image scans and a second quantity of progressive imagescans. In some cases, generating the higher quality version of the imagebased on combining the first quantity and the second quantity canfurther comprise removing, by the terminator module 226, a firstterminator element subsequent to the first quantity of progressive imagescans. The second quantity of progressive image scans can be appended,by the progressive image scan combination module 224, to the firstquantity of progressive image scans. Additionally, the terminator module226 can add a second terminator element subsequent to the secondquantity that has been appended to the first quantity. Again, manyvariations are possible.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example scenario 300 associated with providingprogressive images based on data range requests, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure. The example scenario 300illustrates an example lower quality version 302 of an image and anexample higher quality version 304 of the image. The image cancorrespond to a progressive image, such as a progressive JPEG image.

As shown, the example lower quality version 302 of the image can includeor can be formed by a header file/element 306, a first quantity ofprogressive image scans (Scan #1 308, Scan #2 310, Scan #3 312), and afirst terminator file/element 314. In this example scenario 300, thedisclosed technology can generate the example higher quality version 304of the image by combining the first quantity of progressive image scans(Scan #1 308, Scan #2 310, Scan #3 312) and a second quantity ofprogressive image scans (Scan #4 316, Scan #5 318, Scan #6 320, Scan #7322). In particular, the disclosed technology can remove the firstterminator file/element 314, append the second quantity to the firstquantity, and add the second terminator file/element 324. As shown, theexample higher quality version 304 of the image can include or can beformed by the header file/element 306, the first quantity of progressiveimage scans (Scan #1 308, Scan #2 310, Scan #3 312), the second quantityof progressive image scans (Scan #4 316, Scan #5 318, Scan #6 320, Scan#7 322), and a second terminator file/element 324. As discussed, allexamples herein are provided for illustrative purposes and there can bemany variations or other possibilities associated with the disclosedtechnology.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example method 400 associated with providingprogressive images based on data range requests, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure. It should be appreciated thatthere can be additional, fewer, or alternative steps performed insimilar or alternative orders, or in parallel, within the scope of thevarious embodiments unless otherwise stated.

At block 402, the example method 400 can request a lower quality versionof an image, the image corresponding to a progressive image. At block404, the example method 400 can acquire a first quantity of progressiveimage scans included in the progressive image. The first quantity ofprogressive image scans can represent the lower quality version of theimage. At block 406, the example method 400 can acquire a command toaccess a higher quality version of the image. At block 408, the examplemethod 400 can identify a data range associated with a second quantityof progressive image scans included in the progressive image. The secondquantity of progressive image scans can be combinable with the firstquantity of progressive image scans to represent the higher qualityversion of the image. At block 410, the example method 400 can acquirethe second quantity of progressive image scans based on the data range.At block 412, the example method 400 can generate the higher qualityversion of the image based on combining the first quantity and thesecond quantity. In some cases, the above can be repeated for a thirdquantity, a fourth quantity, and so forth, in order to represent evenhigher quality versions of the image. Many variations are possible.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example method 500 associated with providingprogressive images based on data range requests, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure. As discussed, it should beunderstood that there can be additional, fewer, or alternative stepsperformed in similar or alternative orders, or in parallel, within thescope of the various embodiments unless otherwise stated.

At block 502, the example method 500 can acquire information included inan image header for the image. At block 504, the example method 500 canidentify, based on the information included in the image header, a lastscan in the first quantity of progressive image scans. At block 506, theexample method 500 can identify a starting scan in the second quantityof progressive image scans. The starting scan in the second quantity canbe subsequent to the last scan in the first quantity. At block 508, theexample method 500 can identify an ending scan in the second quantity ofprogressive image scans based on at least one of the informationincluded in the image header, a system configuration, a device property,a network condition, a defined setting, or a user preference. Thestarting scan and the ending scan can be respectively associated with astart and an end for the data range.

It is contemplated that there can be many other uses, applications,features, possibilities, and/or variations associated with variousembodiments of the present disclosure. For example, users can, in somecases, choose whether or not to opt-in to utilize the disclosedtechnology. The disclosed technology can, for instance, also ensure thatvarious privacy settings, preferences, and configurations are maintainedand can prevent private information from being divulged. In anotherexample, various embodiments of the present disclosure can learn,improve, and/or be refined over time.

Social Networking System—Example Implementation

FIG. 6 illustrates a network diagram of an example system 600 that canbe utilized in various scenarios, in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present disclosure. The system 600 includes one or more user devices610, one or more external systems 620, a social networking system (orservice) 630, and a network 650. In an embodiment, the social networkingservice, provider, and/or system discussed in connection with theembodiments described above may be implemented as the social networkingsystem 630. For purposes of illustration, the embodiment of the system600, shown by FIG. 6, includes a single external system 620 and a singleuser device 610. However, in other embodiments, the system 600 mayinclude more user devices 610 and/or more external systems 620. Incertain embodiments, the social networking system 630 is operated by asocial network provider, whereas the external systems 620 are separatefrom the social networking system 630 in that they may be operated bydifferent entities. In various embodiments, however, the socialnetworking system 630 and the external systems 620 operate inconjunction to provide social networking services to users (or members)of the social networking system 630. In this sense, the socialnetworking system 630 provides a platform or backbone, which othersystems, such as external systems 620, may use to provide socialnetworking services and functionalities to users across the Internet. Insome embodiments, the social networking system 630 can include orcorrespond to a social media system (or service).

The user device 610 comprises one or more computing devices (or systems)that can receive input from a user and transmit and receive data via thenetwork 650. In one embodiment, the user device 610 is a conventionalcomputer system executing, for example, a Microsoft Windows compatibleoperating system (OS), Apple OS X, and/or a Linux distribution. Inanother embodiment, the user device 610 can be a computing device or adevice having computer functionality, such as a smart-phone, a tablet, apersonal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile telephone, a laptop computer,a wearable device (e.g., a pair of glasses, a watch, a bracelet, etc.),a camera, an appliance, etc. The user device 610 is configured tocommunicate via the network 650. The user device 610 can execute anapplication, for example, a browser application that allows a user ofthe user device 610 to interact with the social networking system 630.In another embodiment, the user device 610 interacts with the socialnetworking system 630 through an application programming interface (API)provided by the native operating system of the user device 610, such asiOS and ANDROID. The user device 610 is configured to communicate withthe external system 620 and the social networking system 630 via thenetwork 650, which may comprise any combination of local area and/orwide area networks, using wired and/or wireless communication systems.

In one embodiment, the network 650 uses standard communicationstechnologies and protocols. Thus, the network 650 can include linksusing technologies such as Ethernet, 802.11 (e.g., Wi-Fi), worldwideinteroperability for microwave access (WiMAX), 3G, 4G, CDMA, GSM, LTE,digital subscriber line (DSL), etc. Similarly, the networking protocolsused on the network 650 can include multiprotocol label switching(MPLS), transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), UserDatagram Protocol (UDP), hypertext transport protocol (HTTP), simplemail transfer protocol (SMTP), file transfer protocol (FTP), and thelike. The data exchanged over the network 650 can be represented usingtechnologies and/or formats including hypertext markup language (HTML)and extensible markup language (XML). In addition, all or some links canbe encrypted using conventional encryption technologies such as securesockets layer (SSL), transport layer security (TLS), and InternetProtocol security (IPsec).

In one embodiment, the user device 610 may display content from theexternal system 620 and/or from the social networking system 630 byprocessing a markup language document 614 received from the externalsystem 620 and from the social networking system 630 using a browserapplication 612. The markup language document 614 identifies content andone or more instructions describing formatting or presentation of thecontent. By executing the instructions included in the markup languagedocument 614, the browser application 612 displays the identifiedcontent using the format or presentation described by the markuplanguage document 614. For example, the markup language document 614includes instructions for generating and displaying a web page havingmultiple frames that include text and/or image data retrieved from theexternal system 620 and the social networking system 630. In variousembodiments, the markup language document 614 comprises a data fileincluding extensible markup language (XML) data, extensible hypertextmarkup language (XHTML) data, or other markup language data.Additionally, the markup language document 614 may include JavaScriptObject Notation (JSON) data, JSON with padding (JSONP), and JavaScriptdata to facilitate data-interchange between the external system 620 andthe user device 610. The browser application 612 on the user device 610may use a JavaScript compiler to decode the markup language document614.

The markup language document 614 may also include, or link to,applications or application frameworks such as FLASH™ or Unity™applications, the Silverlight™ application framework, etc.

In one embodiment, the user device 610 also includes one or more cookies616 including data indicating whether a user of the user device 610 islogged into the social networking system 630, which may enablemodification of the data communicated from the social networking system630 to the user device 610.

The external system 620 includes one or more web servers that includeone or more web pages 622 a, 622 b, which are communicated to the userdevice 610 using the network 650. The external system 620 is separatefrom the social networking system 630. For example, the external system620 is associated with a first domain, while the social networkingsystem 630 is associated with a separate social networking domain. Webpages 622 a, 622 b, included in the external system 620, comprise markuplanguage documents 614 identifying content and including instructionsspecifying formatting or presentation of the identified content.

The social networking system 630 includes one or more computing devicesfor a social network, including a plurality of users, and providingusers of the social network with the ability to communicate and interactwith other users of the social network. In some instances, the socialnetwork can be represented by a graph, i.e., a data structure includingedges and nodes. Other data structures can also be used to represent thesocial network, including but not limited to databases, objects,classes, meta elements, files, or any other data structure. The socialnetworking system 630 may be administered, managed, or controlled by anoperator. The operator of the social networking system 630 may be ahuman being, an automated application, or a series of applications formanaging content, regulating policies, and collecting usage metricswithin the social networking system 630. Any type of operator may beused.

Users may join the social networking system 630 and then add connectionsto any number of other users of the social networking system 630 to whomthey desire to be connected. As used herein, the term “friend” refers toany other user of the social networking system 630 to whom a user hasformed a connection, association, or relationship via the socialnetworking system 630. For example, in an embodiment, if users in thesocial networking system 630 are represented as nodes in the socialgraph, the term “friend” can refer to an edge formed between anddirectly connecting two user nodes.

Connections may be added explicitly by a user or may be automaticallycreated by the social networking system 630 based on commoncharacteristics of the users (e.g., users who are alumni of the sameeducational institution). For example, a first user specifically selectsa particular other user to be a friend. Connections in the socialnetworking system 630 are usually in both directions, but need not be,so the terms “user” and “friend” depend on the frame of reference.Connections between users of the social networking system 630 areusually bilateral (“two-way”), or “mutual,” but connections may also beunilateral, or “one-way.” For example, if Bob and Joe are both users ofthe social networking system 630 and connected to each other, Bob andJoe are each other's connections. If, on the other hand, Bob wishes toconnect to Joe to view data communicated to the social networking system630 by Joe, but Joe does not wish to form a mutual connection, aunilateral connection may be established. The connection between usersmay be a direct connection; however, some embodiments of the socialnetworking system 630 allow the connection to be indirect via one ormore levels of connections or degrees of separation.

In addition to establishing and maintaining connections between usersand allowing interactions between users, the social networking system630 provides users with the ability to take actions on various types ofitems supported by the social networking system 630. These items mayinclude groups or networks (i.e., social networks of people, entities,and concepts) to which users of the social networking system 630 maybelong, events or calendar entries in which a user might be interested,computer-based applications that a user may use via the socialnetworking system 630, transactions that allow users to buy or sellitems via services provided by or through the social networking system630, and interactions with advertisements that a user may perform on oroff the social networking system 630. These are just a few examples ofthe items upon which a user may act on the social networking system 630,and many others are possible. A user may interact with anything that iscapable of being represented in the social networking system 630 or inthe external system 620, separate from the social networking system 630,or coupled to the social networking system 630 via the network 650.

The social networking system 630 is also capable of linking a variety ofentities. For example, the social networking system 630 enables users tointeract with each other as well as external systems 620 or otherentities through an API, a web service, or other communication channels.The social networking system 630 generates and maintains the “socialgraph” comprising a plurality of nodes interconnected by a plurality ofedges. Each node in the social graph may represent an entity that canact on another node and/or that can be acted on by another node. Thesocial graph may include various types of nodes. Examples of types ofnodes include users, non-person entities, content items, web pages,groups, activities, messages, concepts, and any other things that can berepresented by an object in the social networking system 630. An edgebetween two nodes in the social graph may represent a particular kind ofconnection, or association, between the two nodes, which may result fromnode relationships or from an action that was performed by one of thenodes on the other node. In some cases, the edges between nodes can beweighted. The weight of an edge can represent an attribute associatedwith the edge, such as a strength of the connection or associationbetween nodes. Different types of edges can be provided with differentweights. For example, an edge created when one user “likes” another usermay be given one weight, while an edge created when a user befriendsanother user may be given a different weight.

As an example, when a first user identifies a second user as a friend,an edge in the social graph is generated connecting a node representingthe first user and a second node representing the second user. Asvarious nodes relate or interact with each other, the social networkingsystem 630 modifies edges connecting the various nodes to reflect therelationships and interactions.

The social networking system 630 also includes user-generated content,which enhances a user's interactions with the social networking system630. User-generated content may include anything a user can add, upload,send, or “post” to the social networking system 630. For example, a usercommunicates posts to the social networking system 630 from a userdevice 610. Posts may include data such as status updates or othertextual data, location information, images such as photos, videos,links, music or other similar data and/or media. Content may also beadded to the social networking system 630 by a third party. Content“items” are represented as objects in the social networking system 630.In this way, users of the social networking system 630 are encouraged tocommunicate with each other by posting text and content items of varioustypes of media through various communication channels. Suchcommunication increases the interaction of users with each other andincreases the frequency with which users interact with the socialnetworking system 630.

The social networking system 630 includes a web server 632, an APIrequest server 634, a user profile store 636, a connection store 638, anaction logger 640, an activity log 642, and an authorization server 644.In an embodiment of the invention, the social networking system 630 mayinclude additional, fewer, or different components for variousapplications. Other components, such as network interfaces, securitymechanisms, load balancers, failover servers, management and networkoperations consoles, and the like are not shown so as to not obscure thedetails of the system.

The user profile store 636 maintains information about user accounts,including biographic, demographic, and other types of descriptiveinformation, such as work experience, educational history, hobbies orpreferences, location, and the like that has been declared by users orinferred by the social networking system 630. This information is storedin the user profile store 636 such that each user is uniquelyidentified. The social networking system 630 also stores data describingone or more connections between different users in the connection store638. The connection information may indicate users who have similar orcommon work experience, group memberships, hobbies, or educationalhistory. Additionally, the social networking system 630 includesuser-defined connections between different users, allowing users tospecify their relationships with other users. For example, user-definedconnections allow users to generate relationships with other users thatparallel the users' real-life relationships, such as friends,co-workers, partners, and so forth. Users may select from predefinedtypes of connections, or define their own connection types as needed.Connections with other nodes in the social networking system 630, suchas non-person entities, buckets, cluster centers, images, interests,pages, external systems, concepts, and the like are also stored in theconnection store 638.

The social networking system 630 maintains data about objects with whicha user may interact. To maintain this data, the user profile store 636and the connection store 638 store instances of the corresponding typeof objects maintained by the social networking system 630. Each objecttype has information fields that are suitable for storing informationappropriate to the type of object. For example, the user profile store636 contains data structures with fields suitable for describing auser's account and information related to a user's account. When a newobject of a particular type is created, the social networking system 630initializes a new data structure of the corresponding type, assigns aunique object identifier to it, and begins to add data to the object asneeded. This might occur, for example, when a user becomes a user of thesocial networking system 630, the social networking system 630 generatesa new instance of a user profile in the user profile store 636, assignsa unique identifier to the user account, and begins to populate thefields of the user account with information provided by the user.

The connection store 638 includes data structures suitable fordescribing a user's connections to other users, connections to externalsystems 620 or connections to other entities. The connection store 638may also associate a connection type with a user's connections, whichmay be used in conjunction with the user's privacy setting to regulateaccess to information about the user. In an embodiment of the invention,the user profile store 636 and the connection store 638 may beimplemented as a federated database.

Data stored in the connection store 638, the user profile store 636, andthe activity log 642 enables the social networking system 630 togenerate the social graph that uses nodes to identify various objectsand edges connecting nodes to identify relationships between differentobjects. For example, if a first user establishes a connection with asecond user in the social networking system 630, user accounts of thefirst user and the second user from the user profile store 636 may actas nodes in the social graph. The connection between the first user andthe second user stored by the connection store 638 is an edge betweenthe nodes associated with the first user and the second user. Continuingthis example, the second user may then send the first user a messagewithin the social networking system 630. The action of sending themessage, which may be stored, is another edge between the two nodes inthe social graph representing the first user and the second user.Additionally, the message itself may be identified and included in thesocial graph as another node connected to the nodes representing thefirst user and the second user.

In another example, a first user may tag a second user in an image thatis maintained by the social networking system 630 (or, alternatively, inan image maintained by another system outside of the social networkingsystem 630). The image may itself be represented as a node in the socialnetworking system 630. This tagging action may create edges between thefirst user and the second user as well as create an edge between each ofthe users and the image, which is also a node in the social graph. Inyet another example, if a user confirms attending an event, the user andthe event are nodes obtained from the user profile store 636, where theattendance of the event is an edge between the nodes that may beretrieved from the activity log 642. By generating and maintaining thesocial graph, the social networking system 630 includes data describingmany different types of objects and the interactions and connectionsamong those objects, providing a rich source of socially relevantinformation.

The web server 632 links the social networking system 630 to one or moreuser devices 610 and/or one or more external systems 620 via the network650. The web server 632 serves web pages, as well as other web-relatedcontent, such as Java, JavaScript, Flash, XML, and so forth. The webserver 632 may include a mail server or other messaging functionalityfor receiving and routing messages between the social networking system630 and one or more user devices 610. The messages can be instantmessages, queued messages (e.g., email), text and SMS messages, or anyother suitable messaging format.

The API request server 634 allows one or more external systems 620 anduser devices 610 to call access information from the social networkingsystem 630 by calling one or more API functions. The API request server634 may also allow external systems 620 to send information to thesocial networking system 630 by calling APIs. The external system 620,in one embodiment, sends an API request to the social networking system630 via the network 650, and the API request server 634 receives the APIrequest. The API request server 634 processes the request by calling anAPI associated with the API request to generate an appropriate response,which the API request server 634 communicates to the external system 620via the network 650. For example, responsive to an API request, the APIrequest server 634 collects data associated with a user, such as theuser's connections that have logged into the external system 620, andcommunicates the collected data to the external system 620. In anotherembodiment, the user device 610 communicates with the social networkingsystem 630 via APIs in the same manner as external systems 620.

The action logger 640 is capable of receiving communications from theweb server 632 about user actions on and/or off the social networkingsystem 630. The action logger 640 populates the activity log 642 withinformation about user actions, enabling the social networking system630 to discover various actions taken by its users within the socialnetworking system 630 and outside of the social networking system 630.Any action that a particular user takes with respect to another node onthe social networking system 630 may be associated with each user'saccount, through information maintained in the activity log 642 or in asimilar database or other data repository. Examples of actions taken bya user within the social networking system 630 that are identified andstored may include, for example, adding a connection to another user,sending a message to another user, reading a message from another user,viewing content associated with another user, attending an event postedby another user, posting an image, attempting to post an image, or otheractions interacting with another user or another object. When a usertakes an action within the social networking system 630, the action isrecorded in the activity log 642. In one embodiment, the socialnetworking system 630 maintains the activity log 642 as a database ofentries. When an action is taken within the social networking system630, an entry for the action is added to the activity log 642. Theactivity log 642 may be referred to as an action log.

Additionally, user actions may be associated with concepts and actionsthat occur within an entity outside of the social networking system 630,such as an external system 620 that is separate from the socialnetworking system 630. For example, the action logger 640 may receivedata describing a user's interaction with an external system 620 fromthe web server 632. In this example, the external system 620 reports auser's interaction according to structured actions and objects in thesocial graph.

Other examples of actions where a user interacts with an external system620 include a user expressing an interest in an external system 620 oranother entity, a user posting a comment to the social networking system630 that discusses an external system 620 or a web page 622 a within theexternal system 620, a user posting to the social networking system 630a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or other identifier associated with anexternal system 620, a user attending an event associated with anexternal system 620, or any other action by a user that is related to anexternal system 620. Thus, the activity log 642 may include actionsdescribing interactions between a user of the social networking system630 and an external system 620 that is separate from the socialnetworking system 630.

The authorization server 644 enforces one or more privacy settings ofthe users of the social networking system 630. A privacy setting of auser determines how particular information associated with a user can beshared. The privacy setting comprises the specification of particularinformation associated with a user and the specification of the entityor entities with whom the information can be shared. Examples ofentities with which information can be shared may include other users,applications, external systems 620, or any entity that can potentiallyaccess the information. The information that can be shared by a usercomprises user account information, such as profile photos, phonenumbers associated with the user, user's connections, actions taken bythe user such as adding a connection, changing user profile information,and the like.

The privacy setting specification may be provided at different levels ofgranularity. For example, the privacy setting may identify specificinformation to be shared with other users; the privacy settingidentifies a work phone number or a specific set of related information,such as, personal information including profile photo, home phonenumber, and status. Alternatively, the privacy setting may apply to allthe information associated with the user. The specification of the setof entities that can access particular information can also be specifiedat various levels of granularity. Various sets of entities with whichinformation can be shared may include, for example, all friends of theuser, all friends of friends, all applications, or all external systems620. One embodiment allows the specification of the set of entities tocomprise an enumeration of entities. For example, the user may provide alist of external systems 620 that are allowed to access certaininformation. Another embodiment allows the specification to comprise aset of entities along with exceptions that are not allowed to access theinformation. For example, a user may allow all external systems 620 toaccess the user's work information, but specify a list of externalsystems 620 that are not allowed to access the work information. Certainembodiments call the list of exceptions that are not allowed to accesscertain information a “block list”. External systems 620 belonging to ablock list specified by a user are blocked from accessing theinformation specified in the privacy setting. Various combinations ofgranularity of specification of information, and granularity ofspecification of entities, with which information is shared arepossible. For example, all personal information may be shared withfriends whereas all work information may be shared with friends offriends.

The authorization server 644 contains logic to determine if certaininformation associated with a user can be accessed by a user's friends,external systems 620, and/or other applications and entities. Theexternal system 620 may need authorization from the authorization server644 to access the user's more private and sensitive information, such asthe user's work phone number. Based on the user's privacy settings, theauthorization server 644 determines if another user, the external system620, an application, or another entity is allowed to access informationassociated with the user, including information about actions taken bythe user.

In some embodiments, the user device 610 can include a progressive imagerange request module 618. The progressive image range request module 618can, for example, be implemented as the progressive image range requestmodule 102 of FIG. 1. As discussed previously, it should be appreciatedthat there can be many variations or other possibilities. For example,in some instances, the progressive image range request module (or atleast a portion thereof) can be included or implemented in the socialnetworking system 630. Other features of the progressive image rangerequest module 618 are discussed herein in connection with theprogressive image range request module 102.

Hardware Implementation

The foregoing processes and features can be implemented by a widevariety of machine and computer system architectures and in a widevariety of network and computing environments. FIG. 7 illustrates anexample of a computer system 700 that may be used to implement one ormore of the embodiments described herein in accordance with anembodiment of the invention. The computer system 700 includes sets ofinstructions for causing the computer system 700 to perform theprocesses and features discussed herein. The computer system 700 may beconnected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the computer system 700 may operate in the capacity of aserver machine or a client machine in a client-server networkenvironment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed)network environment. In an embodiment of the invention, the computersystem 700 may be the social networking system 630, the user device 610,and the external system 620, or a component thereof. In an embodiment ofthe invention, the computer system 700 may be one server among many thatconstitutes all or part of the social networking system 630.

The computer system 700 includes a processor 702, a cache 704, and oneor more executable modules and drivers, stored on a computer-readablemedium, directed to the processes and features described herein.Additionally, the computer system 700 includes a high performanceinput/output (I/O) bus 706 and a standard I/O bus 708. A host bridge 710couples processor 702 to high performance I/O bus 706, whereas I/O busbridge 712 couples the two buses 706 and 708 to each other. A systemmemory 714 and one or more network interfaces 716 couple to highperformance I/O bus 706. The computer system 700 may further includevideo memory and a display device coupled to the video memory (notshown). Mass storage 718 and I/O ports 720 couple to the standard I/Obus 708. The computer system 700 may optionally include a keyboard andpointing device, a display device, or other input/output devices (notshown) coupled to the standard I/O bus 708. Collectively, these elementsare intended to represent a broad category of computer hardware systems,including but not limited to computer systems based on thex86-compatible processors manufactured by Intel Corporation of SantaClara, Calif., and the x86-compatible processors manufactured byAdvanced Micro Devices (AMD), Inc., of Sunnyvale, Calif., as well as anyother suitable processor.

An operating system manages and controls the operation of the computersystem 700, including the input and output of data to and from softwareapplications (not shown). The operating system provides an interfacebetween the software applications being executed on the system and thehardware components of the system. Any suitable operating system may beused, such as the LINUX Operating System, the Apple Macintosh OperatingSystem, available from Apple Computer Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., UNIXoperating systems, Microsoft® Windows® operating systems, BSD operatingsystems, and the like. Other implementations are possible.

The elements of the computer system 700 are described in greater detailbelow. In particular, the network interface 716 provides communicationbetween the computer system 700 and any of a wide range of networks,such as an Ethernet (e.g., IEEE 802.3) network, a backplane, etc. Themass storage 718 provides permanent storage for the data and programminginstructions to perform the above-described processes and featuresimplemented by the respective computing systems identified above,whereas the system memory 714 (e.g., DRAM) provides temporary storagefor the data and programming instructions when executed by the processor702. The I/O ports 720 may be one or more serial and/or parallelcommunication ports that provide communication between additionalperipheral devices, which may be coupled to the computer system 700.

The computer system 700 may include a variety of system architectures,and various components of the computer system 700 may be rearranged. Forexample, the cache 704 may be on-chip with processor 702. Alternatively,the cache 704 and the processor 702 may be packed together as a“processor module”, with processor 702 being referred to as the“processor core”. Furthermore, certain embodiments of the invention mayneither require nor include all of the above components. For example,peripheral devices coupled to the standard I/O bus 708 may couple to thehigh performance I/O bus 706. In addition, in some embodiments, only asingle bus may exist, with the components of the computer system 700being coupled to the single bus. Moreover, the computer system 700 mayinclude additional components, such as additional processors, storagedevices, or memories.

In general, the processes and features described herein may beimplemented as part of an operating system or a specific application,component, program, object, module, or series of instructions referredto as “programs”. For example, one or more programs may be used toexecute specific processes described herein. The programs typicallycomprise one or more instructions in various memory and storage devicesin the computer system 700 that, when read and executed by one or moreprocessors, cause the computer system 700 to perform operations toexecute the processes and features described herein. The processes andfeatures described herein may be implemented in software, firmware,hardware (e.g., an application specific integrated circuit), or anycombination thereof.

In one implementation, the processes and features described herein areimplemented as a series of executable modules run by the computer system700, individually or collectively in a distributed computingenvironment. The foregoing modules may be realized by hardware,executable modules stored on a computer-readable medium (ormachine-readable medium), or a combination of both. For example, themodules may comprise a plurality or series of instructions to beexecuted by a processor in a hardware system, such as the processor 702.Initially, the series of instructions may be stored on a storage device,such as the mass storage 718. However, the series of instructions can bestored on any suitable computer readable storage medium. Furthermore,the series of instructions need not be stored locally, and could bereceived from a remote storage device, such as a server on a network,via the network interface 716. The instructions are copied from thestorage device, such as the mass storage 718, into the system memory 714and then accessed and executed by the processor 702. In variousimplementations, a module or modules can be executed by a processor ormultiple processors in one or multiple locations, such as multipleservers in a parallel processing environment.

Examples of computer-readable media include, but are not limited to,recordable type media such as volatile and non-volatile memory devices;solid state memories; floppy and other removable disks; hard diskdrives; magnetic media; optical disks (e.g., Compact Disk Read-OnlyMemory (CD ROMS), Digital Versatile Disks (DVDs)); other similarnon-transitory (or transitory), tangible (or non-tangible) storagemedium; or any type of medium suitable for storing, encoding, orcarrying a series of instructions for execution by the computer system700 to perform any one or more of the processes and features describedherein.

For purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the description. It will beapparent, however, to one skilled in the art that embodiments of thedisclosure can be practiced without these specific details. In someinstances, modules, structures, processes, features, and devices areshown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the description.In other instances, functional block diagrams and flow diagrams areshown to represent data and logic flows. The components of blockdiagrams and flow diagrams (e.g., modules, blocks, structures, devices,features, etc.) may be variously combined, separated, removed,reordered, and replaced in a manner other than as expressly describedand depicted herein.

Reference in this specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”,“other embodiments”, “one series of embodiments”, “some embodiments”,“various embodiments”, or the like means that a particular feature,design, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. Theappearances of, for example, the phrase “in one embodiment” or “in anembodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarilyall referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternativeembodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, whetheror not there is express reference to an “embodiment” or the like,various features are described, which may be variously combined andincluded in some embodiments, but also variously omitted in otherembodiments. Similarly, various features are described that may bepreferences or requirements for some embodiments, but not otherembodiments. Furthermore, reference in this specification to “based on”can mean “based, at least in part, on”, “based on at least aportion/part of”, “at least a portion/part of which is based on”, and/orany combination thereof.

The language used herein has been principally selected for readabilityand instructional purposes, and it may not have been selected todelineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. It is thereforeintended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detaileddescription, but rather by any claims that issue on an application basedhereon. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments of the inventionis intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of theinvention, which is set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method comprising:requesting, by a computing system, a lower quality version of an image,the image corresponding to a progressive image; acquiring, by thecomputing system, a first quantity of progressive image scans includedin the progressive image, the first quantity of progressive image scansrepresenting the lower quality version of the image; acquiring, by thecomputing system, a command to access a higher quality version of theimage; identifying, by the computing system, a data range associatedwith a second quantity of progressive image scans included in theprogressive image, the second quantity of progressive image scans beingcombinable with the first quantity of progressive image scans torepresent the higher quality version of the image; acquiring, by thecomputing system, the second quantity of progressive image scans basedon the data range; and generating, by the computing system, the higherquality version of the image based on combining the first quantity andthe second quantity.
 2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1,wherein identifying the data range associated with the second quantityof progressive image scans included in the progressive image furthercomprises: acquiring information included in an image header for theimage; identifying, based on the information included in the imageheader, a last scan in the first quantity of progressive image scans;identifying a starting scan in the second quantity of progressive imagescans, the starting scan in the second quantity being subsequent to thelast scan in the first quantity; and identifying an ending scan in thesecond quantity of progressive image scans based on at least one of theinformation included in the image header, a system configuration, adevice property, a network condition, a defined setting, or a userpreference, the starting scan and the ending scan being respectivelyassociated with a start and an end for the data range.
 3. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the image headerincludes a proprietary header, and wherein at least some of theinformation included in the image header is incorporated in theproprietary header.
 4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1,wherein acquiring the second quantity of progressive image scans basedon the data range further comprises: generating a uniform resourcelocator (URL) that indicates the data range; transmitting, to a contentproviding system, a request for the second quantity of progressive imagescans, the request being associated with the URL; and receiving, fromthe content providing system, the second quantity of progressive imagescans.
 5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein acquiringthe second quantity of progressive image scans based on the data rangefurther comprises: generating a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) rangerequest that includes a byte range corresponding to the data range, thebyte range being incorporated into a HTTP header associated with theHTTP range request; transmitting, to a content providing system, theHTTP range request; and receiving, from the content providing system,data corresponding to the byte range, the data representing the secondquantity of progressive image scans.
 6. The computer-implemented methodof claim 1, wherein generating the higher quality version of the imagebased on combining the first quantity and the second quantity furthercomprises: removing a first terminator element subsequent to the firstquantity of progressive image scans; appending the second quantity ofprogressive image scans to the first quantity of progressive imagescans; and adding a second terminator element subsequent to the secondquantity that has been appended to the first quantity.
 7. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the command to accessthe higher quality version of the image is associated with at least oneof a user interaction, a change in network connectivity, a socialengagement trigger, or a time trigger.
 8. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 1, wherein the lower quality version of the image islower in resolution than the higher quality version of the image.
 9. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the lower qualityversion of the image is associated with at least one of a previewversion of the image or a thumbnail version of the image, and whereinthe higher quality version of the image is associated with at least oneof a full-screen displayable version of the image or an originalresolution version of the image.
 10. The computer-implemented method ofclaim 1, wherein the progressive image corresponds to a progressiveJoint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) image, and wherein eachprogressive image scan in the first quantity and in the second quantitycorresponds to a respective progressive JPEG scan included in theprogressive JPEG image.
 11. A system comprising: at least one processor;and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at leastone processor, cause the system to perform: requesting a lower qualityversion of an image, the image corresponding to a progressive image;acquiring a first quantity of progressive image scans included in theprogressive image, the first quantity of progressive image scansrepresenting the lower quality version of the image; acquiring a commandto access a higher quality version of the image; identifying a datarange associated with a second quantity of progressive image scansincluded in the progressive image, the second quantity of progressiveimage scans being combinable with the first quantity of progressiveimage scans to represent the higher quality version of the image;acquiring the second quantity of progressive image scans based on thedata range; and generating the higher quality version of the image basedon combining the first quantity and the second quantity.
 12. The systemof claim 11, wherein identifying the data range associated with thesecond quantity of progressive image scans included in the progressiveimage further comprises: acquiring information included in an imageheader for the image; identifying, based on the information included inthe image header, a last scan in the first quantity of progressive imagescans; identifying a starting scan in the second quantity of progressiveimage scans, the starting scan in the second quantity being subsequentto the last scan in the first quantity; and identifying an ending scanin the second quantity of progressive image scans based on at least oneof the information included in the image header, a system configuration,a device property, a network condition, a defined setting, or a userpreference, the starting scan and the ending scan being respectivelyassociated with a start and an end for the data range.
 13. The system ofclaim 11, wherein acquiring the second quantity of progressive imagescans based on the data range further comprises: generating a uniformresource locator (URL) that indicates the data range; transmitting, to acontent providing system, a request for the second quantity ofprogressive image scans, the request being associated with the URL; andreceiving, from the content providing system, the second quantity ofprogressive image scans.
 14. The system of claim 11, wherein acquiringthe second quantity of progressive image scans based on the data rangefurther comprises: generating a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) rangerequest that includes a byte range corresponding to the data range, thebyte range being incorporated into a HTTP header associated with theHTTP range request; transmitting, to a content providing system, theHTTP range request; and receiving, from the content providing system,data corresponding to the byte range, the data representing the secondquantity of progressive image scans.
 15. The system of claim 11, whereingenerating the higher quality version of the image based on combiningthe first quantity and the second quantity further comprises: removing afirst terminator element subsequent to the first quantity of progressiveimage scans; appending the second quantity of progressive image scans tothe first quantity of progressive image scans; and adding a secondterminator element subsequent to the second quantity that has beenappended to the first quantity.
 16. A non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium including instructions that, when executed by at leastone processor of a computing system, cause the computing system toperform a method comprising: requesting a lower quality version of animage, the image corresponding to a progressive image; acquiring a firstquantity of progressive image scans included in the progressive image,the first quantity of progressive image scans representing the lowerquality version of the image; acquiring a command to access a higherquality version of the image; identifying a data range associated with asecond quantity of progressive image scans included in the progressiveimage, the second quantity of progressive image scans being combinablewith the first quantity of progressive image scans to represent thehigher quality version of the image; acquiring the second quantity ofprogressive image scans based on the data range; and generating thehigher quality version of the image based on combining the firstquantity and the second quantity.
 17. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein identifying thedata range associated with the second quantity of progressive imagescans included in the progressive image further comprises: acquiringinformation included in an image header for the image; identifying,based on the information included in the image header, a last scan inthe first quantity of progressive image scans; identifying a startingscan in the second quantity of progressive image scans, the startingscan in the second quantity being subsequent to the last scan in thefirst quantity; and identifying an ending scan in the second quantity ofprogressive image scans based on at least one of the informationincluded in the image header, a system configuration, a device property,a network condition, a defined setting, or a user preference, thestarting scan and the ending scan being respectively associated with astart and an end for the data range.
 18. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein acquiring thesecond quantity of progressive image scans based on the data rangefurther comprises: generating a uniform resource locator (URL) thatindicates the data range; transmitting, to a content providing system, arequest for the second quantity of progressive image scans, the requestbeing associated with the URL; and receiving, from the content providingsystem, the second quantity of progressive image scans.
 19. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, whereinacquiring the second quantity of progressive image scans based on thedata range further comprises: generating a Hypertext Transfer Protocol(HTTP) range request that includes a byte range corresponding to thedata range, the byte range being incorporated into a HTTP headerassociated with the HTTP range request; transmitting, to a contentproviding system, the HTTP range request; and receiving, from thecontent providing system, data corresponding to the byte range, the datarepresenting the second quantity of progressive image scans.
 20. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, whereingenerating the higher quality version of the image based on combiningthe first quantity and the second quantity further comprises: removing afirst terminator element subsequent to the first quantity of progressiveimage scans; appending the second quantity of progressive image scans tothe first quantity of progressive image scans; and adding a secondterminator element subsequent to the second quantity that has beenappended to the first quantity.